The Happy Visit

We provide quality care and personalized service to every one of our patients, especially our smallest ones. Regular dental appointments are an important part of protecting your child’s smile. As the first set of teeth grow in, Dr. Greenfield will partner with you to develop healthy oral hygiene habits for your child’s continuous good dental health. We recommend bringing your child for his or her first visit, called a Happy Visit, at around age two, and to begin routine checkups at around age four or five. We not only provide excellent children’s dental care in our office, we also provide additional learning tools, such as our Kid Stuff webpage, that make learning about oral hygiene fun and interactive. Dr. Greenfield will also take time to answer any questions you may have about caring for your child’s teeth at home.

In the Words of a Satisfied Patient

“This was my kids (ages 4 and 7) first trip to this dentist. We have had positive dentist visits before at our old place, but I remember not feeling truly relaxed while my kids were being checked out. Of course, I didn’t realize this completely until our visit here with Dr. Greenfield and his staff. They enjoyed talking to my kids and let them tell them stories and just made them feel so at ease, that I felt truly relaxed. Dr. Greenfield didn’t try to “sell” me on any unnecessary treatments or make us feel like we weren’t doing a good job of taking care of their teeth. Excited to continue taking my kids there and even switching my husband and I over too!”

To learn more about the exceptional care we show our smaller patients, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.

Always Read the Labels

The myth that too much sugar is directly responsible for cavities may be false, but it is close to the truth. Your child’s mouth contains between 10-15 billion bacteria. When these bacteria accumulate, they create a sticky biofilm (plaque) that holds them together and allows them to cling to teeth. When your child eats something sugary, these bacteria process the sugar and turn it into lactic acid, which weakens tooth enamel (the tooth’s outer protective layer). Weakened enamel allows bacteria into the interior of the tooth, causing tooth decay. Check all food labels for the amount of sugar and acids they contain. Foods that contain a lot of sugar should be eaten as part of a larger meal to help dilute the sugar and neutralize acid. Chewing sugarless gum after a meal stimulates saliva, which further helps buffer acids and fight tooth decay.

Tooth Healthy Food Choices

Milk and water are the best drink choices. Neither contains damaging amounts of sugar, and both help rinse acid and bacteria from the mouth. Milk has the added benefit of calcium and phosphate—two main minerals that comprise tooth enamel, and help strengthen it when consumed. If you include juice or soda in your child’s lunch, include a straw, as well. Drinking through a straw will help minimize tooth exposure to sugar and acid. Foods that contain protein also act as good acid buffers. Nuts, cheeses, chicken, and turkey all contain protein, as well as other minerals that are essential to the health of your child’s teeth.

For more information on protecting your child’s health, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.

Learning About Your Own Oral Health

At your dental checkup, Dr. Greenfield takes the time to understand your unique needs as a dental patient. No two dental cases are alike, and treatment should be approached at a personal level. True to our philosophy that patient education is crucial, your checkup will also include a full review of your mouth using digital X-rays, which provide an instantaneous image of your oral cavity that Dr. Greenfield can review right alongside you on the chairside monitor. These images assist the doctor in thoroughly explaining any oral health issues you may have or be at risk for, and to show you exactly where within your mouth the problem lies. Once you understand the state of your dental health and what you may be at risk for, you will be better equipped to make an informed decision about your preferred treatment.  

Continuing Patient Education

To ensure the success of your treatment, Dr. Greenfield may recommend that you attend checkups more frequently than the recommended twice a year. At each visit, Dr. Greenfield will explain any new developments that he detects, as well as answer any questions you may have.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.

The Importance of Baby Teeth

Your children’s first teeth are important. Although not permanent, your child’s primary teeth affect the development of their permanent teeth. The first set of teeth not only serves as placeholders for adult teeth, they also help your child learn to speak and chew properly. Assist and teach your child to brush and floss their teeth at least twice a day, and acquaint them with the habit of visiting the dentist’s office at least once every six months, or as often as Dr. Greenfield recommends. Cavities in primary teeth should also be filled quickly to prevent the decay from spreading to un-erupted, underlying permanent teeth.

A Clean Bill-of-Health for Your Child’s Teeth

Even with the strictest of oral hygiene routines, there is always a risk of infection or decay settling into your child’s teeth and gums. Like most health issues, oral conditions are more successfully treated the earlier they are addressed. Gum disease, which is the leading cause of adult tooth loss, begins as gingivitis, which is marked by red and swollen gums. Tooth decay, however, can cause extensive damage to your tooth structure before any symptoms become apparent. Be sure to schedule and attend your child’s dental exam and cleaning before the first day of school to avoid oral health issues interfering with studies.

If your children are younger, the oral hygiene habits you teach them now will remain with them throughout life. To learn about proper oral health care for children, browse the tools on our Kid Stuff page, or visit our website for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.

The Oral Cancer Dilemma

By the time most people discover that they have oral cancer, the disease has already spread to other tissues within the body. Once the cancer spreads, the mortality rate is drastically increased. In fact, in cases of early detection, the survival rate of oral cancer equals about 90%. Survival rates for late detection oral cancer patients are much lower, falling to about 57%. In order to reduce the mortality of oral cancer, experts are trying diligently to devise new detection methods that will greatly improve the survival rate. Barry Wenig, a professor at Michigan State University, aim to conduct a study along with Delta Dental of Michigan’s Research and Data Institute to understand and hopefully learn to detect oral cancer. The study will involve 100-120 patients that exhibit possibly cancerous lesions or growths in their mouths. Wenig and his team hope to track certain biomarkers that have been shown to prove the existence of oral cancer. By producing an oral cancer saliva test, Wenig and his team hope to eliminate occurrences of patients needlessly receiving biopsies, as well as improve early detection in oral cancer screenings.

Advanced Oral Screening at Lake Orion Dentistry

Until the biomarkers are found and tracked, and extensive research done to complete an oral cancer saliva test, you can still receive state-of-the-art oral cancer screenings at your Lake Orion dentist’s office. Based on a deceptively simple light system, our VELScope technology highlights abnormal oral tissues that may prove cancerous. You can reduce your risk of oral cancer by maintaining a strong and healthy mouth through daily brushing and flossing and regular dental checkups every six months.

To learn more about oral cancer screening, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.

 Bridging the Gap

A bridge is a custom designed prosthetic that replaces one or more missing teeth in a row. If the two teeth adjacent to a missing tooth are healthy, Dr. Greenfield may recommend a dental bridge to fill the vacancy. These two healthy teeth are called abutment teeth. As a fixed appliance, a bridge is permanently attached to the abutment teeth.

Partial Dentures

Dentures are a time-honored method of restoring one’s smile to the strength and confidence it has lost. They look and feel like natural teeth, allowing you to eat the foods you want and smile as brightly as you once did. If you are missing multiple teeth that are not adjacent, or in a row, then you may be a perfect candidate for partial dentures. Similar to full dentures, partials fit in between existing teeth to close gaps created by lost teeth.

Full Dentures

If you are missing all of your teeth on the upper or lower arch of your gums, you may need a full set of dentures to fix the damage.  Full dentures consist of a full set of replacement teeth on a gum-colored base, held in place by suction or adhesive cream

Implant-Supported Dentures

If your dentures feel loose or wobbly, ask Dr. Greenfield about implant-supported dentures. This reliable prosthetic device attaches to small implant posts, anchored in the jaw. You can simply snap the appliance in place; no suction or adhesive is required. Patients with implant-retained dentures report greater confidence, as well as more natural feel and function.

If you would like to learn more about restoring your smile, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.

The Key is Exposure

Aside from staining your teeth, drinks like soda and fruit juices contain high concentrations of sugars and acid that can damage your teeth. When acid comes into contact with your teeth, it immediately attacks, weakening your enamel and sapping minerals from your tooth to prevent your enamel from regaining its strength. Once the enamel is sufficiently weakened, bacteria can gain access to the interior of your tooth and infect the pulp, where your nerves and blood vessels are located. If left unchecked, this infection can lead to extensive and devastating damage to your teeth and supporting jawbone structure. When oral bacteria, mainly S. mutans, metabolize refined sugars and carbs, it excretes lactic acid over the surface of your teeth, exacerbating tooth enamel destruction. The longer and more frequently your teeth are exposed to harmful sugar and acid, the greater your risk of tooth decay.

Drink Responsibly.  Even Soft Drinks

Luckily, you do not have to boycott your favorite drinks entirely in order to save your teeth. Dr. Greenfield recommends drinking potentially harmful beverages through a straw to limit the amount of beverage that touches your teeth. Ensure that the straw is positioned toward the back of your mouth (positioning the straw at the front of the mouth defeats the purpose). Drink quickly, as opposed to sipping slowly throughout the day, to limit the amount of time your teeth are exposed. Also, rinse your mouth with water after finishing your drink in order to neutralize the acid in your mouth and rinse away excess sugar deposits.

If you would like to learn more about nutrition and your oral health, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.

What are Stem Cells?

The term “stem cells” raises mixed responses, depending on who you mention it to. Because stem cells are basically blank cells that can be directed to form any human cell type, to many people they represent the possibility of a disease free world. However, until recently, the most efficient source of stem cells was embryonic fluid, which made stem cells the source of much controversy. In order for a cell to be a stem cell, it has to possess two essential qualities; the potential to differentiate (transform) into other cell types, and the ability to divide itself into identical daughter stem cells (mitosis). For years, researchers have explored various sources of stem cells, including skin cells and bone marrow. While bone marrow cells proved promising, the process of extracting the necessary biomaterial is expensive and time consuming.

Stem Cells in the Pulp of Wisdom Teeth

In 2010, a team of scientists at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology found a group of cells in the soft pulp of teeth called mesenchymal stromal cells. MSCs are similar to cells found in bone marrow, but are much easier to obtain. Since millions of Americans have their wisdom teeth pulled every year, dental pulp stem cells provide the perfect opportunity to remove the biological material in a sterilized setting. Patients can potentially save their frozen wisdom teeth for years until a personal stem cell source is needed to treat a disease or heal excessively damaged tissue.

To learn more about innovative dentistry, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.

How Anorexia Affects Your Oral Health

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. Someone with anorexia will literally starve themselves in an effort to reach their “ideal” weight. Whether they are thin or even dangerously underweight, they still consider themselves fat and go to extremes to become or remain “thin.” By depriving themselves of food, they not only hurt their bodies, they’re also depriving their teeth of essential nutrients needed to remain healthy and securely rooted in their mouths. For instance, one of tooth enamel’s main minerals is calcium. Your body does not produce this mineral. We must ingest calcium in the foods and beverages that we consume. If your blood calcium levels drop, your body pulls calcium from your bones and teeth to take up the slack. Without adequate amounts of essential nutrients, your teeth become weak and fall out, paving the way for gum disease, which can lead to more serious health concerns, including heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

How Bulimia Affects Your Oral Health

Bulimia is a condition that is also characterized by a deep-seated fear of gaining weight. Rather than starving themselves, however, bulimics regularly indulge in hidden binge-eating (periods of overeating), and then attempt to purge themselves by immediately throwing up or misusing laxatives and enemas. The practices of a bulimic constantly bring stomach acids into contact with your teeth. When the acidity level of plaque drops below 5.5, it begins to attack your teeth (the pH level of stomach acid is 2). These acid attacks weaken your enamel, rob your teeth of enamel-strengthening minerals such as calcium, and lead to tooth decay and gum disease, if left untreated.

If you suffer from an eating disorder and wish to seek help, speak with Dr. Greenfield about resources for assistance with eating disorders. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.

Caring for Your Teeth and Gums

The damage that results from moderate to severe periodontal (gum) disease can be devastating, and repairing that damage requires extensive dental procedures and care. In most cases, the patient does not even realize they have gum disease. By the time obvious systems appear (i.e., swollen and irritated gums and pockets created by the separation of gum tissue from the teeth), the condition has advanced. At this point, you may already have oral damage, including loose teeth and possible alveolar bone degradation (deterioration of the jawbone, which supports and anchors your teeth). Prevention of gum disease, however, is much less complicated than treatment. Although it may seem oversimplified, brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day removes the elements necessary for gum disease to develop, including bacterial plaque buildup and excessive presence of acids. Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash can also prove beneficial by washing away food particles and bacteria that you may have missed with the toothbrush and dental floss.

Regular Maintenance

Daily dental maintenance is important, but is only effective above and slightly below the gum line. Visit your dentist at least every six months for a routine checkup and professional dental cleaning. Our hygienist will thoroughly clean your mouth and remove missed plaque and tartar buildup. After a thorough examination, Dr. Greenfield will be able to tell you whether your gums are infected, and offer a variety of treatment options, depending on the level of progression. Because the early symptoms of gum disease are invisible to the naked eye, a dental checkup is the only sure way to determine if your gums are infected before they are devastated with damage.

Habits that Affect Your Risk Factor

No matter how well you clean your teeth, it will all be for naught if you engage in habits that are detrimental to your oral health. The list of such habits is long, but perhaps the most notorious one is smoking. Every puff of cigarette smoke contains over 4,700 different chemicals and is almost a guarantee of developing some sort of oral issue, including oral cancer and, yes, gum disease. There are no effective defenses against the harm of tobacco use. The best solution is to quit smoking. Your diet is extremely important as well. Reduce the amount of sugar you consume, and especially the frequency with which you consume it. This will deprive the harmful bacteria in your mouth of a key ingredient they need to produce the acids that destroy your oral health.

By taking extra care of your oral health, you protect your mouth and body from bacterial infection. Be sure to continue to attend your dental checkup at least every six months to allow Dr. Greenfield to inspect the state of your oral health. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenfield, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, Michigan, at (248) 693-6213. We welcome patients from Lake Orion, Oxford, Rochester Hills, Clarkston, and the surrounding communities.